Charlotte Hornets (DR) / Wilt Chamberlain Archive (DR)
By Joël Pütz | Sports journalist
Superstar and franchise player from Charlotte, LaMelo Ball is having an absolutely amazing 2024-25 season. The proof of this is this surprising statistic of the former No. 2 draft pick, who has reached heights that no one since Wilt Chamberlain has reached.
As is often the case in recent years, the Hornets are long out of the playoff race in 2024-25. With only 8 wins out of 28 losses, they are only 13th in the Eastern Conference and in any case, winning is not their priority even though they welcomed a new coach this summer in the person of Charles Lee.
By the time the long-term project was formed, the tactician decided to hand over the keys to the truck LaMelo Ball. Constantly injured since his draft in 2020, the leader has missed 11 games this season but at the moment, he is impossible to miss when he is on the floor. He even topped the All-Star Game votes for guards in the East, all with a substantial lead to say the least.
LaMelo Ball’s historic shooting numbers
It must be said that Ball darkened the stats sheet like few players with more than 29 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists on average. Where his production becomes all-time, however, is in his shooting volume. Currently, Lonzo’s brother has 24.6 attempts per game, including more than thirteen three-pointers…
Legion Hoops (via X): LaMelo Ball takes the most shots per minute ever Wilt Chamberlain in 1965. Face of the franchise.
Stats from another era where only Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan took as many shots per game as Ball for nearly 40 years.
With 0.727 attempts per minute, the former No. 2 in the draft so draws the least amount of time, whether he’s alone or not. The other side of the coin is that his success is average to say the least with 42% shooting, including 33% from distance. Suffice it to say that not with such a formula that Charlotte will be a competitive team again … and without much surprise, the file of the superstar divides basketball fans.
@WWaveboy : The team is 8-28, not even winning basketball. He’s just doing stat-padding
@NicThomasNBA : He is the best guard in the NBA right now
@BIGMEM12 : A generational sketcher
LaMelo Ball has carte blanche with the Hornets and while it may not help his franchise reap victories, the leader is having fun like a kid on the floor. In terms of individual performances, fans are therefore served in 2024-25… if nothing else.